Holder for Rapid Deployment of Duty Gear

ABSTRACT

One example describes a holder (also known as a holster or accessory) that is to be used by uniformed professional field personnel (e.g., law enforcement, fire, parks departments, search and rescue, private security, utilities personnel, military, etc.), collectively described below as “Officer”. This also introduces new features that allow for improved access and improved Officer safety. This also deals with the holders and how to build or set them up, so that it is safe and convenient, as well as protected and easy to access for the officer, but not easy to access for a third party. Some of the variations and structures that we show here are, e.g., the spring loaded flaps, the cutouts on the sides, the magnet, and the recessed snap.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current application is related to and CIP (continuation in part) of a prior co-pending application Ser. No. 13/350,803, filed 15 Jan. 2012, and it takes the priority benefit of provisional application 61/892,254, filed Oct. 17, 2013, with the same title, and incorporating all its teaching entirely by reference.

Ser. No. 13/350,803 application is related to and CIP (continuation in part) of a prior co-pending application, filed Jun. 6, 2011, Ser. No. 13/154,284, now a U.S. Pat. No. 8,510,868, issued on Aug. 20, 2013. That application is taking benefits of all teachings and earlier filing date of prior application, and incorporating all its teaching entirely by reference.

Ser. No. 13/154,284 was based on a prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/396,927, filed on Jun. 7, 2010, taking benefits of all teachings and earlier filing date of that application, and incorporating all its teaching entirely by reference.

Ser. No. 13/154,284 was also related to a prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/457,152, filed on Jan. 18, 2011, taking benefits of all teachings and earlier filing date of that application, and incorporating all its teaching entirely by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a need for better gear for law enforcement. The convenience, weight, security, stability, longevity, flexibility, and versatility are some of the factors that can be improved for the operation of the law enforcement officers, which are mission critical. In particular, there is a need for a better holder for rapid deployment of duty gear.

Duty Belts, as they are known in the industry, have been available for some time. The most common configuration is the following: The user has an inner belt (also known as a trouser belt) that is threaded through the belt loops of the user's pants (FIG. 1). Commonly, these do not incorporate a buckle in order to keep the profile as thin as possible. They also usually have one half of a Velcro assembly on the outward facing surface. Outside of the inner belt is the duty belt (also known as a Sam Browne belt by US law enforcement) itself (FIG. 2). This is a wider belt (typically 2″ or 2.25″ wide) and lies across the inner belt outboard of the pant belt loops. The duty belt is secured to the user by means of the other half of the Velcro assembly facing inwards toward the inner belt.

Some prior art references are, which are all different from our teachings below:

U.S. Pat. No. 7,594,305, by Moore, teaching “Socket engaging tether for electronic devices”

U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,013, by Stanback, teaching “Ornament support device”

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/351,167 or 2007/0075914, by Bates, teaching “security antenna”.

There is also a great need for the holders that it is safe and convenient, as well as protected and easy to access for the officer, but not easy to access for a third party. Some of the variations and structures that we show here are, e.g., the spring loaded flaps, the cutouts on the sides, the magnet, and the recessed snap, which solve these problems for the users/officers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment describes a holder (also known as a holster or accessory) that is to be used by uniformed professional field personnel (e.g., law enforcement, fire, parks departments, search and rescue, private security, utilities personnel, military, etc.), collectively described below as “Officer”. This invention introduces new features that allow for improved access and improved Officer safety. Duty Belts as they are known in the industry have been available for some time. The most common configuration is the following: The Officer has an inner belt (also known as a trouser belt or an under belt) that is threaded through the belt loops of the Officer's pants (Appendix 13, FIG. 1). Commonly, these do not incorporate a buckle in order to keep the profile as thin as possible. They also commonly have one half of a Velcro assembly on the outward facing surface. Outside of the inner belt is the duty belt (also known as a Sam Brown belt by US law enforcement) (Appendix 13, FIG. 2). This is a wider belt (typically 2″ or 2.25″ wide) and lies across the inner belt outboard of the pant belt loops. The duty belt holds onto the Officer by means of the other half of the Velcro assembly facing inwards toward the inner belt. Sometimes, supplemental mechanical straps known as “keepers” are used that wrap around both inner and duty belts to ensure that they are firmly attached to one another (Appendix 13, FIG. 3). Still on other belts, there is no Velcro used at all between the inner and the duty belt. The keepers are the sole retention mechanism between the two belts in that configuration. In this invention, we introduce some new mechanisms and systems for such functionalities.

This invention deals with the holders and how to build or set them up, so that it is safe and convenient, as well as protected and easy to access for the officer, but not easy to access for a third party. Some of the variations and structures that we show here are, e.g., the spring loaded flaps, the cutouts on the sides, the magnet, and the recessed snap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some examples and embodiments are described here for clarification, but the inventions are not limited to these examples:

FIG. 1 shows a typical inner belt.

FIG. 2 shows a typical duty belt.

FIG. 3 shows typical keepers.

FIG. 4 a shows a typical Fastex buckle duty belt.

FIG. 4 b shows an open duty belt.

FIG. 4 c shows a buckle removed on duty belt prior to sliding accessories on and off the belt.

FIG. 5 a shows a traditional buckle duty belt.

FIG. 5 b shows a duty belt with removable buckle.

FIG. 5 c is the Step 1 in assembling duty belt, as one example.

FIG. 5 d is the Step 2 in assembling duty belt, as one example.

FIG. 5 e is the Step 3 in assembling duty belt, as one example.

FIG. 5 f shows another angle of step 3 in the assembly of the duty belt, as one example.

FIG. 5 g shows the Step 4 in the assembly of the duty belt, as one example.

FIG. 5 h shows the final step in assembly of the duty belt, as one example.

FIG. 6 shows a buckleless duty belt.

FIG. 7 shows an integrated rail on present invention, as an example.

FIG. 8 shows a cross section view of duty belt and mounted accessory.

FIG. 9 a shows a legacy accessory mounted to one of the current inventions (outside view).

FIG. 9 b shows legacy accessory mounted to current invention (inside view), as an example.

FIG. 10 shows the inside of a duty belt, as an example.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative rail configuration.

FIG. 12 shows a cosmetic piece attached in the interior of the rail.

FIG. 13 shows a cosmetic piece is extended, to form traditional belt ends.

FIG. 14 shows a segmented rail.

FIG. 15 shows a pre-formed rail.

FIG. 16 shows a pre-formed rail with a variety of curvatures and flaring.

FIG. 17 a shows an alternative buckle design.

FIG. 17 b shows an alternative buckle in open and closed position (cross section from above), as an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 18 shows a cross section view of duty belt and mounted accessory, similar to FIG. 8.

FIG. 19 shows an alternative rail configuration, similar to FIG. 11.

FIGS. 20 a-c show a cosmetic piece attached in the interior of the rail, similar to FIG. 12.

FIG. 21 shows a segmented rail, similar to FIG. 14.

FIG. 22 shows a pre-formed rail, similar to FIG. 15.

FIGS. 23 a-b show a pre-formed rail with a variety of curvatures and flaring, similar to FIG. 16.

FIG. 24 shows an embodiment of the invention with elastomeric belt.

FIG. 25 shows an embodiment of the invention with elastomeric belt.

FIG. 26 shows an embodiment of the invention for details for FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 shows an embodiment of the invention for details for FIG. 25.

FIG. 28 shows an embodiment of the invention for details for FIG. 25.

FIG. 29 shows an embodiment of the invention for details for FIG. 25.

FIG. 30 shows an embodiment of the invention for details for FIG. 25.

FIG. 31 shows an embodiment of the invention for holder for rapid deployment of duty gear.

FIG. 32 shows an embodiment of the invention for holder for rapid deployment of duty gear.

FIG. 33 shows an embodiment of the invention for holder for rapid deployment of duty gear.

FIG. 34 shows an embodiment of the invention for holder for rapid deployment of duty gear.

FIG. 35 shows an embodiment of the invention for holder for rapid deployment of duty gear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

One embodiment of the invention describes holders, attached to the duty belt. These holders either have a strap on the back that wraps around the duty belt (Appendix 13, FIG. 4), or they are attached to the belt via mechanical features that are specifically designed for them (Appendix 13, FIG. 5). These holders are receptacles for various pieces of equipment, including, but not limited to, sidearms, Tasers, handcuffs, sidearm magazines, OC spray canisters, keys, gloves, CPR mask, radio, baton, knife, notebooks, and phones. Collectively these are described below as “Objects”. Some holders on the market are simply a pouch with an open top that is commonly upward facing (Appendix 13, FIG. 6). This allows the Officer to easily access the Object, but it has multiple downsides:

1. Since many of the officers work outdoors, the objects are exposed to weather, such as sun exposure, rain, sand, and dirt.

2. When jostled, such as when running, moving into and out of a vehicle, or, in more serious cases, when grappling with a suspect, the objects can become dislodged and fall out of the holders. This can damage the object or, in the case of police officers, this can become a safety issue, when the officer does not have access to their equipment.

3. Having a portion of the object exposed alerts the public to what the officer is carrying. In the case of a police officer, this is a safety issue as a suspect may make an attempt to grab an object in order to do harm to the officer or others.

4. By definition, the officers are uniformed personnel. The uniform is there to project an air of authority, consistency, and professionalism. If the officer has bits of objects exposed around his or her waist, this visually breaks up the presence of the uniform.

Many holders address these shortcomings by the addition of a flap that covers the objects (also shown in Appendix 13, FIG. 6, in the form of a handcuff holder). The flap by its presence solves issues 1, 3 and 4 above. Issue 2 above is solved by means of a removable attachment, such as a snap, hook and loop assembly (commonly referred to as Velcro) or a magnet. The Officer must disengage this attachment in order to lift the flap and gain access to the Object.

While the flap solves the issues that the open top holders raised, this design offers new challenges. The flap decreases the accessibility of the Officer to retrieve and return the Object to and from the holder. This can become a serious issue in the case of law enforcement, when an Officer needs to keep his or her eyes on a suspect while accessing an object such as OC spray. The return of an object to the holder can also be problematic as the flaps return to a natural closed or semi-closed position, once the object is removed. In these cases, the flap needs to be re-opened prior to reinsertion of the object, and all of this has to happen with only the hand holding onto the object.

Officers carry numerous Objects, and some of these are positioned in areas that are out of sight of the Officer, such as on the Officer's back. In this case the Officer needs to access the flap and retrieve the object without looking at it. Flaps in this case make the retrieval and return of the object more difficult.

Still, in other cases, such as in a panic or emergency situation, the Object needs to be retrieved very rapidly. The panic and increased adrenaline makes the manual dexterity required to open a flap more difficult. Any time lost in these situations, even if it is on the order of fractions of a second, compromises Officer's safety.

Compounded on all these scenarios are the cases in cold climates where Officers need to wear gloves. These gloves further hinder access and return of Objects because of the reduced dexterity they offer and the close proximity of the flap to the main body of the holder.

The described invention addresses these concerns by describing a holder which has a flap that is easier to open that the state-of-the-art flaps. The invention also describes an improvement to the main body of the holder that improves access.

The flap, instead of being a flat piece of material folded over the top of the holder, is a formed 3-dimensional part. A portion of the flap distal to the flap/main body interface protrudes away from the main body of the holder, when it is in the closed position. The side edges of the flap can still lay close to the main body of the holder, if desired, so that the flap does not catch on items surrounding the Officer, as the Officer passes by. The protruded portion of the flap offers a tactile clue as to the flap edge location even through gloves. It also affords from a portion of a finger to multiple fingers, to get between the flap and the body of the holder. This allows the officer to more easily open the flap compared to the current state-of-the-art (Appendix 13, FIG. 8).

In an alternate embodiment, the flap may not have a dedicated attachment means at all, such as a snap or Velcro. Instead, the side edges of the flap may engage in grooves in the body of the holder. This keeps the flap tight to the holder body, while the protruded region forms a ledge that allows the user to easily slide the flap upward, disengaging it from the holder body (Appendix 13, FIG. 9).

A further novel feature of the described invention aids in improved access to the Objects. For holders with or without flaps, a portion of the holder is removed from either side, essentially opposite each other (see “Cutouts” shown in Appendix 13, FIG. 7). The front and rear of the holder are left at a taller height. The front and rear allow for the friction between the holder and the Object. Friction is also supplied by the area below the cutouts. The cutouts allow the Officer to grab the Object between his thumb and finger(s). This purchase is more substantial and along a greater length of the Object. This minimizes the possibility of drops and increases the possibility that the Officer be able to utilize the Object immediately, upon removal from the holder (Appendix 13, FIG. 10).

A further novel aspect to the present invention relates to the state of the flap, once opened. As mentioned, in the current state-of-the-art, the flap once opened, returns to a nearly closed state, since that is the position the flap has existed for almost its entire life and has taken a set shape in that position. Instead, in this invention, the flap once decoupled from the main body of the holder, is held in an open state. This state can be pure vertical. But it can also be short of vertical, as even a flap that maintains a 90 degree bend away from the body still offers improvement for the Officer to return an item to the holder without having to fully reopen the flap (Appendix 13, FIG. 7). In order to create this movement, the flap could have (as part of its construction) a flat spring that naturally wants to maintain this open condition (Appendix 13, FIG. 7).

Alternatively, the flap could be stable in both the open and closed position. This could be accomplished by the inclusion of a mechanism in the flap/main body interface (Appendix 13, FIG. 11). In Appendix 13, FIG. 11, there is a flat shown on part ‘Steel cam M5’. When this flat rotates to face the ‘Steel plunger’, the flap is in its closed position. This is the position the flap is shown in the exploded view of Appendix 13, FIG. 11. This flat makes the closed position a position of stability. The Officer does not need to wrestle with the flap, while he or she is engaging the snap or other such feature. ‘Steel cam M5’ also has a groove that, when aligned with ‘Steel plunger’, is a point of stability in the open position. Note that this groove is roughly 90 degrees away from the flap defining the open position, as one where the long element of the flap protrudes directly away from the body. If the officer continues to rotate the flap and overcome the ‘Steel plunger’, the flap can open further and the ‘Steel plunger’ travels along the ‘Steel cam M5’ at the full radius of the cam. This is an over-travel position or a full-open position that may be desired by some officers.

A further novel aspect to the present invention relates to the snap that currently exists on the flap of the holders. This snap is a metal part that protrudes to the inside of the flap. The problem is that it is a small step or shelf that can impede the removal of an Object from the holder. This can slow removal or, in the worst case, cause the Officer to lose grip of the object during removal and drop the object to the ground. Two solutions to this problem are shown on the present invention. The first solution adds a second layer of material to the inside of the flap so that the snap is recessed (Appendix 13, FIG. 7, bottom right image). Another solution is the inclusion of a part (labeled ‘Snap Ramp’ in Appendix 13, FIG. 11), which helps to guide the object past the snap, without hitting it.

Some embodiments of the invention are:

Spring loaded flap is stable in open position, once released from holder body. (This ‘open’ position could be fully vertical or something less than vertical.)

Flap is stable in both open and closed position. (This stability in the closed position is not utilizing the snap. It is stable with either a detent or a magnet. The magnet is out production solution. It is secured by use of the snap. It is similar to how a house door works, i.e., it is stable when closed, as long as it latches. It is secured with a deadbolt.)

Magnet on flap allows closure without securing. (This is being received very highly by the market, as a very desirable feature. In one example, we would not even have to have the flap with the spring loaded open. Just having a magnet holding it in a closed position, in addition to a snap, is another variation.)

Recessed snap on inside of flap (multiple layers of material)

Snap ramp on inside of flap

Rigid grip element on end of flap

Additional space under end of flap for easier access

Cutouts inside of holder to allow for better access of device

Appendix 13, FIG. 4 shows a view from inside of duty belt showing holder attached to the belt with a flap of material that the belt threads through. Appendix 13, FIG. 5 shows side view of holder that mechanically attaches to features of the duty belt. Appendix 13, FIG. 6 shows a typical officer wearing a duty belt. Note open top holders for the three sidearm magazines on the left, the handcuff holder with a flap just to the right of centerline, and the open top flashlight holder on the far right. Appendix 13, FIG. 7 shows side view of proposed invention. Existing state-of-the-art is shown in the center two images. Appendix 13, FIG. 8 shows flap with protruding center to enable better purchase of the finger(s).

Appendix 13, FIG. 9 shows alternative embodiment where the flap engages with the main body of the holder without the use of snaps, Velcro, or magnets. Appendix 13, FIG. 10 shows holder with side cut-outs. Appendix 13, FIG. 11 shows Proposed invention showing many of the elements described above merged into one product solution. Note in this embodiment the use of a part (labeled ‘Snap Ramp’) to aid in the removal of the Object. As the object is pulled out of the holder, the leading edge of the object closest to the body rides up the Snap Ramp, so that it does not come into contact with the hard edge of the snap.

Appendices 1-12 show various views of the holders and various variations of the holders. (Note: The magnet is buried beneath a plastic part, in some figures, which is shown in dashed lines.)

FIGS. 31-35 show embodiments of the invention for holder for rapid deployment of duty gear, for different variations and various views.

In addition, Appendix 14 shows:

FIG. 1.1 Typical inner belt.

FIG. 2.1 Typical duty belt.

FIG. 3.1 Typical keepers.

FIG. 4.1 a Typical Fastex buckle duty belt.

FIG. 4.1 b Open duty belt.

FIG. 4.1 c Buckle removed on duty belt prior to sliding accessories on and off the belt.

FIG. 5.1 a Traditional buckle duty belt.

FIG. 5.1 b Duty belt with removable buckle.

FIG. 5.1 c Step 1 in assembling duty belt.

FIG. 5.1 d Step 2 in assembling the duty belt.

FIG. 5.1 e Step 3 in assembling the duty belt.

FIG. 5.1 f Another angle of step 3 in the assembly of the duty belt.

FIG. 5.1 g Step 4 in the assembly of the duty belt.

FIG. 5.1 h Final step in assembly of duty belt.

FIG. 6.1 Buckleless duty belt.

FIG. 7.1 Integrated rail on present invention.

FIG. 8.1 Cross section view of duty belt and mounted accessory.

FIG. 9.1 a Legacy accessory mounted to current invention (outside view).

FIG. 9.1 b Legacy accessory mounted to current invention (inside view).

FIG. 10.1 Inside of duty belt.

FIG. 11.1 Alternative rail configuration.

FIG. 13.1 Cosmetic piece is extended to form traditional belt ends.

FIG. 14.1 Segmented rail.

Rail can be pre-formed into shape prior to assembly.

Without this, the rail might have a tendency to kink when putting it on

Allows/demand unique POP display which separates it from other belts

Allows for marketing distinctions—“people aren't flat—Belts shouldn't be”p First step in a platform where the rail is angled as you move around the body

FIG. 15.1 Pre-formed rail.

FIG. 16.1 Pre-formed rail with a variety of curvatures and flaring.

The bottom of the rail flares out to match body contours

The Padding could also change as you travel around the body, in order to spread on the hot spots

FIG. 17.1 a Alternative buckle design.

FIG. 17.1 b Alternative buckle in open and closed position (cross section from above).

FIGS. 24, 25, 26, and 27 show examples of components and parts from different views for belt and holder, plus related devices.

Now, let's look at other embodiments related to the belt system. The duty belts and buckles are executed in several different ways, each with their own pros and cons, as described below:

Some (FIG. 4 a) utilize a Fastex type buckle that requires two steps in order to release. The version in FIG. 4 a must have the center button pressed prior to squeezing the opposing buttons on either edge of the buckle. Even though there are only two steps, this is marketed as a 3-way retention, which is the standard and a positive selling feature in the market. The belt material itself threads through the Fastex buckle before it is attached back to itself, utilizing Velcro. Only the plastic buckle needs to be separated in order for the field professional to remove the duty belt (FIG. 4 b). However, the connection between the belt and the buckle needs to be undone by the user, each time a new device is either threaded onto or off of the belt (FIG. 4 c). The downsides of this assembly are:

The belt assembly is quite thick near the buckle as the belt is threaded through the buckle and folded back onto itself (˜25 mm thick).

Belt accessories cannot be placed near the buckle because of interference with the folded-over-belt material.

In order to thread on belt accessories, the buckle is separated from the belt resulting in loose parts that can be dropped and lost.

The free slider that is used to retain the folded over at the end of the belt must first be removed, before accessories are put on. This results in more loose parts. It is also prone to errors for users who do not frequently reconfigure their belts.

The benefits of this buckle design are:

Even though it is 3-way retention, it only takes two motions to take the belt on and off.

Accessories can be threaded on and off, of either end of the belt.

Another popular style of duty belt is shown in FIG. 5 a. This also has a 3-way retention mechanism and, cosmetically, shows itself as a more traditional belt design with a buckle. The buckle itself is actually removable (FIG. 5 b), and it is required to remove it, in order to thread on and off the belt accessories. In order to assemble the belt, the buckle is slid onto the belt (FIG. 5 c), and the buckle's prongs engaged with the belt. Next, the end of the belt is threaded through the other half of the buckle (FIG. 5 d). Now, the central bar on the buckle can engage with the prongs on the distal end of the belt (FIGS. 5 e and 5 f). To achieve the second level of retention, a stud which is integrated on the hook end of the belt is pressed through a hole on the buckle end of the belt (FIG. 5 g). Finally, to get the third level of retention, a sliding keeper is moved over the free end of the belt (FIG. 5 h).

The disadvantages of the belts described in FIGS. 5 a-5 h are:

There are many steps required in order to get the belt ready to slide on and off accessories, as the buckle needs to be removed.

Once removed, the buckle is a loose part, that may become lost.

Accessories may only be slid on and off, of one end of the belt, as the other end is too thick.

The belt assembly is thick beneath the buckle, when worn (˜25 mm thick).

Advantages of this buckle design are:

Accessories may be placed close to the buckle on one side—the end of the belt with the buckle on it. The extending loose end of the belt prevents accessories being placed near the buckle on the other side of the buckle.

In its thickest part (under the buckle) it is similar in thickness to the Fastex belt, however, this thickness only occurs at one point where in the Fastex option, it occurs in two locations, one on either side of the buckle.

Since the sliding keeper is on the end of the belt, which does not have accessories sliding on and off, it does not have to be removed from the belt in order to configure the belt (as opposed to the Fastex version).

Another type of duty belt is a buckleless duty belt (FIG. 6). Other than cosmetics, this is equivalent in many ways to the belt detailed in FIGS. 5 a-5 h. Both have a free sliding keeper and a retaining stud. Instead of the hooks engaging with the back of the buckle, this version has Velcro between the two ends. Other buckleless belts have a sliding keeper, Velcro and a hidden metal hook and loop, in order to achieve three levels of retention.

The disadvantages of the buckleless belts are:

Accessories cannot be placed near the center front of the belt because of the overlapping belt.

Accessories can only slide on and off from one end of the belt because of interference with either the previously mentioned stud or the hidden hooks.

From a cosmetic standpoint, the buckleless designs are lacking a strong visual element of the buckle. Buckles live on the line of symmetry. The visual elements on the buckleless design live off-center.

Advantages of the buckleless design are:

It has the lowest profile of any of the existing systems.

There are no loose parts when sliding on and off accessories.

One embodiment of the current invention incorporates a rigid or semi-rigid rail mounted on the exterior of the duty belt (FIG. 7). The version shown is fabricated from thin sheet metal, but polymers could also be used. Instead of sliding accessories onto the belt from one of the ends, the accessories clip onto the rail (FIG. 8). Legacy accessories (those designed for the prior generation of duty belts) can still be utilized as they slide onto the belt in the traditional method (FIGS. 9 a and 9 b).

The inner surface of the duty belt can have either of the current state of the art surface treatments (½ of a Velcro (hook-and-loop fastener) assembly or no Velcro at all, with the intention of being retained by keepers only). It could also utilize a new surface treatment, as shown in FIG. 10. This has one half of the Velcro assembly, but only on a portion of the interior surface. This has two advantages. First it uses less Velcro, which is an expensive component. Secondly, where the Velcro is not present, mesh or perforations can be added to the belt in order to aide in breathability. The current belts are significantly wide (as previously mentioned) and made of impermeable materials. This combination can cause the users to sweat under the belt when worn for a prolonged period of time.

In addition to a flat rail, the rail can be shaped. This can allow for alternative mounting techniques (FIG. 11). It also can allow for a cosmetic piece to be affixed on the interior of the rail (FIG. 12). Notice that the rail can be perforated to make it lighter and to aide in breathability. This cosmetic piece can also be extended and become integral with the ends of the belt (FIG. 13).

In the above description, the rail is shown to be continuous. It could also be interrupted to allow for several rails to be attached around the belt. In addition, it could also be segmented (FIG. 14). Both of these alternatives allow for a belt that is very easy to bend around the body. Belts like these can be shipped and displayed flat, as is for the current practice. (Note that FIG. 14 shows an articulating or segmented rail.)

Another alternative is that the rail is pre-formed prior to assembly (FIG. 15). In this manner, it can be shaped to fit a person. The advantage in this is that the load of the duty belt can be more evenly distributed around the user's waist.

The pre-formed rail can be taken a step further (FIG. 16) by not just curving it into a round cross section. The cross section of a person at the waist is not round and the rail (and therefore the duty belt as an assembly) can match the shape of an individual. An example of this is across the small part of the back of a person, where there is very little, if any, curvature. Another improvement is that the rail could have flaring (or even variable flaring) (also in FIG. 16), as the rail travels around the body. For example, across the pelvic bones, the lower edge of the rail (closer to the ground) could flare outward, while closer to the stomach the upper edge of the rail could flare outward.

With the rail, other buckle systems can be employed that are not possible with the current soft material belt. One of these utilizes a two part buckle (FIGS. 17 a and 17 b). The center portion of the buckle tabs into a perforation in the rail. The outer portion then pivots into place, preventing the center portion from backing out. A sliding keeper over the buckle would then represent the third layer of retention.

The above described embodiments can utilize any of the current state of the art buckles. In all of these, this invention has the distinct advantage when it comes to configuring the belt with accessories. Not only are there no loose parts during configuration, but the belt does not even have to be taken off the body. Plus, an accessory in the middle of the belt can be removed and replaced without disturbing any of the other accessories. And, since the rail can be taken right up to the buckle, accessories can be attached to the front of the belt, where it is impossible to attach them with the current solutions. This is especially striking with the buckleless system. In this, the rail can be taken right to the end of the belt, so that accessories can be mounted around the entire perimeter of the person. For some field professionals with a significant amount of accessories (e.g. law enforcement) and for some people with a small belt circumference, this is a striking advantage.

FIG. 18 shows a cross section of the belt assembly demonstrating the accessories clamping or attaching onto the edges of the rail, with the following components and features:

1801: duty belt

1803: rail

1805: clip

1807: accessory pouch.

FIG. 18 shows how they are put together (see the arrow).

FIG. 19 shows a cross section of the belt assembly demonstrating an accessory attachment to the rail, in an embodiment, with the following components and features:

1901: duty belt

1903: rail

1905: clip. (Note that the two-part clip has a slight sliding movement, so that clip 1905 can fit and attach to the rail 1903. The same is shown in FIG. 18 above, for item 1805.)

1907: accessory pouch.

FIG. 19 shows how they are put together (see the arrow).

FIG. 20( a) shows the view of the rail with holes, e.g., to lighten the (e.g., metallic) rail, in an embodiment, with the following components and features (the view of the cross-section at A-A direction):

2001: rail

2002: surface of rail

2003: hole(s) in rail, e.g., to lighten the rail

2004: surface of rail bent over at top and bottom edges.

Please note that the width of the belt is defined as the perpendicular distance between the two letters A shown in FIG. 20( a).

FIG. 20( b) shows the cross section view of the rail with cosmetic and padding pieces, in an embodiment, with the following components and features:

2005: cosmetic piece (e.g., leather)

2007: rail (e.g., metallic)

2009: open hems allow for inserting cosmetic leather

2011: once cosmetic piece is inserted, hems can be finished off, to mechanically secure the edges of the leather.

2013: padding

2015: the padding is attached, e.g., by stitching between the padding and the cosmetic treatment through (e.g., large) rail holes.

FIG. 20( b) shows how they are put together (see the arrows, in the sequence, in the steps shown).

FIG. 20( c) is the view of the rail with cosmetic and padding pieces attached, in an embodiment, with the following components and features:

2001: rail (e.g., 1.5″ wide)

2004: surface of rail, bent over at top and bottom edges, on cosmetic piece

2005: surface of cosmetic piece

2013: padding (e.g., 2.25″ wide)

2017: stitching between padding and cosmetic piece, e.g., through holes in the rail.

FIG. 21 shows a section of duty belt, demonstrating segmented rail, in an embodiment, with the following components and features:

2101: padding

2103, 2105: rail segments.

FIG. 22 shows a view of the rail, pre-formed into shape, prior to assembly, in an embodiment, with the following components and features:

2201: rail

2203: e.g., hole(s) in the rail

2205: demonstrating top and/or bottom edge(s) of the rail, bent over.

With the rail preformed into shape, it has a less tendency to kink when putting it on, in one embodiment. This allows/demands unique Point of Purchase (or POP) display, which separates it from other types of belts. It also allows for marketing distinctions, e.g., “People are not flat, and thus, belts should not be.” The form factor is comfortable and customizable for users of different size/ shape. This is the first example of a platform where the rail is angled, as moving around the body.

FIG. 23( a) is the top view of a pre-formed rail demonstrating various curvatures, in an embodiment, with the following components and features:

2301: rail

2303: e.g., strap and/or buckle in front region, instead of rail.

2305: e.g., small or no curvature at the back portion.

FIG. 23( b) shows the section view of a pre-formed rail demonstrating various flaring. In one embodiment, the bottom of the rail flairs out, to match the body contours. The flaring angles are provided as an example from a specific user (in an embodiment), taken at various locations, e.g., measured from the front, around to the back. In one embodiment, the padding also changes as it goes around the body, e.g., in order to spread out the hot spots (e.g., on pelvic bones). This configuration is very flexible and comfortable for the user.

Here is another embodiment: Referring to FIG. 24, we have an articulating clamp that grips around the edges of the rail. We are now showing in FIGS. 25-30 how the clamping of 1805 is accomplished (in FIG. 18)—by a lever with a pin that pushes on the edge of the rail. This is the focus on this embodiment.

One of the features of this embodiment is the vertical compliance of the system. Existing belts, if you squeeze them vertically, are very stiff. This is because the holsters wrap around the entire belt. In order to be secure and accommodate the load of the holsters and their items (e.g. sidearm), the existing belts are very stiff in the vertical dimension. When the belts are loaded up, or when the users sit down, these stiff belt edges dig into the user's legs, side, hips, or the like, causing discomfort for the users. Ours has a very rigid metal band which provides the vertical stability so it secures the items well. However, this band is narrower than the elastomer. So, the elastomer offers compliance before the compression is taken down to the metal band. Another way to describe this is that we have a variable stiffness curve in the vertical dimension. When force versus deflection is plotted, existing belts have a linear relationship between force and deflection vertically. Ours has a non-linear relationship. It starts out at one slope on the graph (representing softer and more compliant) and eventually gets to a different slope (representing stiffer and less compliant). In summary, our solution is strong, but yet flexible enough to make it easier for the user, when sitting with the belt on, as shown in FIG. 24 (with elements 4 and 8 referring to FIG. 25) and FIG. 25, with details in FIGS. 26-30.

For different embodiments, the components of the belt and/or buckle could be mechanically, thermally, sewn, pressed, heated, chemically, inset-molded, co-molded, glued, banded together, chained together, hooked, hook-and-looped, attached using Velcro, or otherwise, integrated or attached to each other, to the belt, or to the buckle. The components can be integrated as part of a belt or buckle. Or, it can be another piece, added to a belt or buckle, as a separate piece. The belt or buckle may have one or more layers or shells. The components may have a notch or lip(s), to attach to the belt or buckle. Or, one can use glue, screw, pin, small bar, or spring, to attach the components to the belt or buckle.

The material used for the belt or buckle can be selected from the following list (or their combinations): plastic, leather, silk, polyester, polymer, string, chain, elastic material, rubber, any artificial material, rigid, soft, flexible, wood, glass, smooth, rough, coarse material or surface, metal, alloy, nylon, cotton, wool, fabric, ceramic, porcelain, china, baked clay, cellulosic material, biomaterial, nano-material, composite, oil or petroleum product, artificial material, natural material, convex, concave, or flat surface, transparent, translucent, or opaque material, uniform, non-uniform surface, reflective surface, or absorptive surface.

In one example, the detent is a catch which prevents the motion, until it gets released. For example, it can be used for flap for keeping that open or closed in a stable position, to cover the opening for the holder for the belt system. In one example, the holder is waterproof. In one example, the holder comprises a battery for charging and an antenna for communication, connected to the telephone. In one example, the holder has a zipper.

Any variations of the above teaching are also intended to be covered by this patent application. 

1. A duty belt system, said duty belt system comprising: a belt; a holder; and a flap; wherein said holder is attached to said belt; wherein said flap is attached to said holder; wherein said flap comprises a spring; wherein said flap is spring-loaded; and wherein said flap stays open, once released from said holder's body.
 2. The duty belt system as recited in claim 1, wherein said flap's open position is in vertical position.
 3. The duty belt system as recited in claim 1, wherein said flap's open position is in a position with less than 90 degrees from vertical position.
 4. The duty belt system as recited in claim 1, wherein said duty belt system comprises a magnet.
 5. The duty belt system as recited in claim 1, wherein said duty belt system comprises Velcro.
 6. The duty belt system as recited in claim 4, wherein said magnet allows closure for said flap.
 7. The duty belt system as recited in claim 1, wherein said duty belt system comprises a recessed snap on inside of said flap.
 8. The duty belt system as recited in claim 7, wherein said duty belt system comprises multiple layers of material inside said flap.
 9. The duty belt system as recited in claim 1, wherein said duty belt system comprises a snap ramp on inside of said flap.
 10. The duty belt system as recited in claim 1, wherein said duty belt system comprises a rigid grip element at end of said flap.
 11. The duty belt system as recited in claim 1, wherein said duty belt system comprises an additional space under end of said flap, for easier access.
 12. The duty belt system as recited in claim 1, wherein said duty belt system comprises a cutout inside said holder, to allow better access.
 13. A duty belt system, said duty belt system comprising: a belt; a holder; a flap; wherein said holder is attached to said belt; wherein said flap is attached to said holder; a detent; wherein said detent is attached to said holder; wherein said flap stays open or closed in a stable position, once released, using said detent.
 14. The duty belt system as recited in claim 13, wherein said holder holds a gun.
 15. The duty belt system as recited in claim 13, wherein said holder holds a magazine.
 16. The duty belt system as recited in claim 13, wherein said holder holds handcuffs.
 17. The duty belt system as recited in claim 13, wherein said holder holds OC spray.
 18. The duty belt system as recited in claim 13, wherein said holder holds a radio.
 19. The duty belt system as recited in claim 13, wherein said holder comprises a zipper.
 20. A duty belt system, said duty belt system comprising: a belt; a holder; a flap; wherein said holder is attached to said belt; wherein said flap is attached to said holder; a magnet; wherein said magnet is attached to said holder; wherein said flap stays open or closed in a stable position, once released, using said magnet. 